Scaling means for use in gasometers inclosing alpha vertically-slidable body



July 26, 1927. ,636,963

K. JAGSCHITZ v SCALING MEANS FOR USE IN GASQMETERS INCLOSING A VEHTICALLY SLIDAB LE BODY File July 7. 1923 2 SheetsSheet 1 Fig.4

Inventor;

1,636,963 v K. JAGSCHITZ SCALING MEANS FOR USE IN GASOMETERS INCLOSING A VERTICALLY SLIDABLE BODY Filed July '7. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V E N TO I? Kama/4 r/ZGSGf/ITZ A TTOR/VE Y8 Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

KONBLD JAG-SGHITZ, OI MAINZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR I TO MASCEINENTABBIK AUGSBURG-NUERNBERG, A. G., OF NUERNBERG, IBAVARIA, GERMANY, A CORPORA- 1310K OF GERMANY.

' SGLLHTG MEANS FOR USE IN GASOMETEBS INCLOSING A VEBTIGALLY-SLDABLE BODY.

Application filed July 7, 1928, Serial No. 650,020, and in Germany February 5, 1828.

This invention has reference to containers in which a vertically slidable body is arranged to take different positions in height, and it more particularly relates to gasometers of the disc sha ed closure type, in which a vertically slid able disc is used to close the variable gas space within the gasometer. It is necessary that such closures should be accessible for inspectionand other purposes at any of their positions, and

it is the main object of this invention to provide ready and efiicient means to afford such access-whether the said closures happen to be in their lowest or in their highest positions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such means, for the said purpose, which will always adapt themselves to the particular position in height of the closure and which shall also be safe and reliable in use.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the provision of a holding stairway or ladder leading from the manhole in the crown of the gasometer down on to the closure; said stairway or ladder bein of substantially chain-like formation, an composed of pivotally connected links or straps which may be arranged to form part of the ladder or the stairway respectively.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention by way of exam le; two modifications of the device being s own.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating the device in the shape of a folding stairway;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the device in the shape of a collapsible ladder' Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation illustrating the invention, as shownin Fig. 1, applied to a gasometer of the disc type, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the stairway shown in Fig. 1.

In these figures at is the chain-like structure which serves to give access to the slidable closure d and which, itself, is accessible from a manhole c in the crown or roof c of the gasometer. The gasometer may be of P any ordinary construction, and includes the usual tank C which serves as a container for the gas, and a closure (1 vertically m0vable in the tank in response to variations in the volume of gas, which is admitted through an inlet a: and expelled through an outlet y. The tank is sealed a ainst leakage in a known way. When exten ed the'length of said structure is such as to just reach down to the closure, d of the gasometer when the latter is in its lowermost osition.

The structure consists o a number of links or straps f arranged in pairs and pivotally connected to each other. In the extended position of the structure the links take a mutually inclined position as shown in the drawing. These pairs of links may be arranged to directly carry the ladder run or the steps of the stairway, as illustrated In Figs. 1 and 4, or they may be constructed to merely serve as carriers or supports for the ladder straps, or the collapsible ladder respectively, as shown in the example of Fig. 2, in which this ladder is composed of a number of separate members g and h, adapted to be folded in hinge fashion.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the links f which, as aforesaid, are mutuallyinclined and pivotally connected to each other, are attached to two folding supports illustrated in the form of chains composed of links a and t and adapted to collapse or fold in bellows fashion or lazy tongs fashion as indicated by the position of the lowermost links in Fig. 1. The links 7, as shown in Fig. 4, comprise longitudinal side members w which carry steps or tread numbers i. A hand rail 2 is provided at each side of t e stairway to facilitate scaling the same.

In the example shown in Fig. 2, the first, third, fifth, and the like joints, which are denoted by z", 2', and the like, are connected by 'hingedly jointed side members h, whereas the second, fourth, sixth, and the like vjoints, which are denoted by z" and the like,

are connected by similar members g. These side members g and h in their connected relation also constitute folding supports and serve as straps for the ladder'and carry the rungs k as shown in Fig. 2. I a

For the purpose of increasing the safety and rigidity of the ladder in its extended position, the side members 9 and h are provided with downwardly directed extensions 0 and 10 respectively, at the places of the joints m and n which are not directly connected to the'central links 7, said extensions being adapted to rest against the uppermost rung k of the portion of the ladder formed by the individual members 9 and h, or against pegs or pins which may be provided forthe purpose.

As the closure d of the gasometer descends, the structure a is automatically extended in such a manner that the pairs of links f rise in succession from the piled-up position in which they have been resting on the closure. When, on the other hand, the closure ascends, the structure collapses or folds automatically and the individual links are successively deposited one on top of the other, so that only that portion of the structure remains extended which is required for giving access to the closure. 7

Apart from its employment in gasometers the improved collapsible scaling structure may also be used for any other purposes or conltainers in which similar conditions preva1 When the closure 0! is situated in the upper parts of the gasometer, or other container, the stack of folded links of the collapsible structure will be so high as to render it diiiicult for a person to tread from the last step over the said stack onto the closure d. In order, however, to also facilitate access to the closure in such case, the latter may be provided with a fixed ladder or step 41 as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1.

What I claim is 2-- 1. A scaling means for a gasometer having a stationary top and a slidable body adapted to rise and fall within said gasometer; comprising a collapsible member depending from the to of said gasometer and automatically extensible and foldable as said body moves downwardly and upwardly respectively, said collapsible member comprising a plurality of interconnected links, means for affording rigidity to said links in their extended positions, and tread members. for permitting said collapsible member to be ascended and descended.

2. A scaling member for a gasometer hav in a stationary top and a vertically slidab e body adapted to rise and fall therein; comprising a collapsible structure depending from said top within the asometer and automatically extensible and oldable as said body moves downwardly and upwardly respectively, said structure comprising a chain of central link members arranged in pairs and pivotally connected to each other at mutual inclinations, another chain of link members at each side of the central chain and pivoted to alternate joints of same to limit the angle of inclination .of the central link members and afiord rigidity to the central chain, a pivotal connection between the uppermost central link and the top of the gasometer, a pivotal connection between the lowermost central link and the slidable body within the gasometer, and tread members on said structure to permit it to be ascended and descended.

3. A scaling means for a gasometer having a stationary top and a vertically movable body adapted to rise and fall therein; comprising a collapsible member depending from the top of said gasometer and automatically extensible and foldable as said body moves downwardly and upwardly respectively, said collapsible member comprising a number of interconnected links having longitudinal side members, and tread members connecting the side members of. each of said links.

i. A scaling means for a gasometer having a stationary top and a vertically slidable body adapted to rise and fall therein; comprising a plurality of mutually inclined link members arranged in pairs, each pair being pivotally connected at its ends to adjacent pairs, tread members connecting the side members of each of the links, and a chain at each side of the links pivotally connected to alternate joints and suspending said link members and tread members from said top within said gasometer to provide access to said slidable body in all of its positions in the gasometer.

5. A scaling means for a gasometer having' a stationary top and a vertically slid: able body adapted to rise and fall therein; comprising a collapsible'member depending from said top within said gasometer and automatically extensible and foldable upon itself as said body moves downwardly and upwardly respectively, said'collapsible member comprising a chain of interconnected links, means to affordrigidity to said chain of links when extended, tread members for permitting the chain to be ascended and descended, and a step arrangement upon the slidable body adjacent the said collapsible member to ermit the slidable body, when in a raise position, to be reached from the piled-up links of the chain when thelatter is in collapsed, position.

6. A scaling means for a gasometer hav- "ing a stationary top and a vertically slidable body adapted to rise and fall in said gasometer; comprising a collapsible structure depending from said top within the gasometer and automatically extensible and foldable as said body moves downwardly and upwardly respectively, said structure comprising a chain of central link members pivotally connected with each other at mutual inclinations, a chain of link members at each side of the central chain ivoted to alternate joints of same, a pivotal connection between the uppermost central link and the top of the gasometer, a similar connec tion whereby the lowermost central link is secured to the slidable body within the gasometer, and tread steps carried by the central links.

7. A scaling means for a gasometer having a'stationary top and a vertically slidable body adapted to rise and fall in said gasometer; comprising a collapsible structure depending from said to within the gasometer and automatical y extensible and foldable as said body moves downwardly and upwardly respectively, said structure comprising two chains of central link members, the links of each chain being pivotally connected to each other at mutual inclinations, :1 double chain of linkmembers at each side of the central chain pivoted to alternate joints of same, a pivotal connection between the uppermost central link and the top of the gasometer, a similar connection whereby the lowermost central link is attached to the slidable body within the gasometer, and tread members connecting the side members of each of the lateral double chains.

8. A scaling means for a 'gasometer having a stationary top and a vertically movable body within said gasometer; comprising a. collapsible scaling member suspended from the top of said gasometer, said scaling member comprising a plurality of interconnected links said links being automatically extensible and foldable as said body moves downwardly and upwardly respectively,

means for limiting the extension of said links, and a plurality of tread members carried by each of said links.

9. A sealing means for a gasometer consisting of a tank having a crown provided with a manhole, and a movable closure adapted to rise and fall within said tank to seal the variable gas space therein; comprising a collapsible structure extending within said gasometer between the said closure and said manhole in the top of the gasometer, and arranged to automatically follow the slidable closure as it rises and falls therein, said structure comprising a central chain and two lateral chains for afiording rigidity to the central chain, and tread members carried by one of the chains to permit said structure to be ascended and descended.

10. A scaling means for a gasometer consisting of a tank having a crownprovided with a manhole, and a slidable' closure within said tank arranged to rise and fall therein; comprising a collapsible member depending from "said crown to said closure and automatically extensible and foldable as said closure moves downwardly and up-' wardly within said gasometer, and tread members on said collapsible member to provide access to said closure through said manhole at all times.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

KONRAD JAG CHITZ. 

